Inclement weather swells reservoirs

low-lying areas in Wariyapola, Nikaweratiya, Maho, Kobeigane, Bingiriya, Pallama, Chilaw, Rasnayakapura and Arachchikattuwa divisions would face the danger of a possible flood

Maussakele and Castlereagh reservoirs were rising fast owing to the torrential rain experienced in the central hills 

By Lalith Navaratne, Sanjeewani Ariyaratne, Gamini Illangatilaka, Mohmed Azik and Prasad Rukmal   

Several tanks and reservoirs have been rising due to the prevailing heavy rain experienced in several areas at present.   

Deduru Oya tank had reached spill level by last morning and seven spill gates were opened by six feet to release spill water.   

Senior official of Wariyapola Regional Irrigation Engineer’s office said 21300sq.ft of water per second was being released at present and that several low-lying areas could be affected by a flood threat.   

He said all spill gates would be opened provided the prevailing heavy rain persisted.   

The official said the low-lying areas in Wariyapola, Nikaweratiya, Maho, Kobeigane, Bingiriya, Pallama, Chilaw, Rasnayakapura and Arachchikattuwa divisions would face the danger of a possible flood threat. Regional Director of Irrigation L.S.Suriyabandara warned the residents of the endangered areas and the drivers to be cautious of the prevailing situation.   

Meanwhile Maussakele and Castlereagh reservoirs were rising fast owing to the torrential rain experienced in the central hills.   

Engineers in Charge of the reservoirs said the water level in Maussakele reservoir stood at 18.5ft below spill level and Castlereagh reservoir at 12ft below.   

Laxapana, New Laxapana, Polpitiya, Wimalasurendra, Canyon and Broadlands hydropower complexes are fed by Maussakele and Castlereagh reservoirs.   

Several families in Nalla, Diyagampola, Kotadeniyawa, Welihinda, and Badalgama areas had been displaced owing to the overflow of Maoya river. Kotadeniyawa – Pannala Friendship Bridge had gone about three feet underwater by last morning. This had brought traffic on the road to a standstill.  

A senior official of the Disaster Management Secretariat said steps would be taken to provide relief to the affected people.   

Engineers in Charge of Polgolla tank said three spill gates in the reservoir were opened last morning to release excess water at the speed of 7300sq, ft. per second into the Mahaweli river They warned the people living in the low-lying areas of the dam .to be cautious of any possible flood threat. They pointed out that the Mahaweli river was swelling fast.   

Train service on the mainline between Colombo Fort and Badulla had come to a standstill owing to an earth slip between Kadigamuwa and Ihala Kotte railway stations. This resulted in the cancellation of several trains. All up trains from Colombo Fort terminated at Rambukkana and the down trains at Kandy.   

All Badulla and Kandy bound trains from Colombo Fort including Podimmenike Express, Udarata Menike Express and the Kandy bound express last morning did not operate.